Carton having a hinged reclosable top



Dec. 27, 1966 F. A. CHIDSEY, JR 3,294,311

CARTON HAVING A HINGED RECLOSABLE TOP Filed July 26, 1965 CFL UnitedStates Patent 3,294,311 CARTQN HAVENG A HENGED RECLGSABLE T9? Francis A.Chidsey, .l'n, Devon, Pa, assignor to Container Corporation of America,Chicago, llll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Italy 26, 1965, Ser. No.4 74, 587 6 Claims. (1. 229-51) This invention relates to a hinged topcarton having means to provide for opening and reclosing of the carton,and in particularly, to an improved construction of such type carton.

Commonly, cartons formed of foldable paperboard can be opened at ahinged top panel separable from the side and front walls of theunderlying tray. When good reclosing of carton is desired, a hood can beformed with the top panel by having interconnected side panels hinged toits side and front edges for overlapping the adjacent walls of the tray.In cartonof this general type, it is desirable to secure the free edgesof the panels to eliminate the possibility of accidental opening thecarton or marring its appearance. A typical problem area is in securingthe side panels of the hood to the tray since they must be separatedfrom the tray body upon opening the hood.

This invention relates to an improved side panel construction includingopposite end sections having free edge portions spaced further from thehinged connection of the side panel to the top panel than the free edgeof a recessed intermediate section of the anel. Thus, the side panel ofthe hood are fixedly secured at its opposite ends to the tray bodythe'rebeneath while the intermediate section is recessed from the edgeof the carton. This side panel construction is particularly suited forcontinuous inline fabrication on a conventional gluing machines whichcan be located relative to the hinged connection of the hood side panelbetween the lower free edges of the end and intermediate sectionsoperable to apply adhesive to the enlarged end sections only. Thus,although the gluer is not retracted, since none of said intermediatesection extends past the gluing machine adhesive is not applied to theintermediate section of the hood side panel but is applied only to theend section.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide in a cartonformed from a blank of foldable paperboard and having a hood adapted tobeing opened and closed, an improved hood side panel construction havingenlarged end sections suitable to being bonded at locations spacedfurther from the hinged connection of the side panel than the free edgeof the intermediate section of the panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnment method offorming a carton of the type described in the previous object, whichmethod includes applying an adhesive with .a straight in-line gluer tothe end sections of the hood side panel at the portion of the side panelspaced beyond the free edge of the intermediate section thereof.

These and other objects will be more fully appreciated after reviewingthe following specification including the accompanying single sheet ofdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton having .an embodiment of thesubject improved hood side panel construction and showing therein themanner in which the hood side panel can have adhesive applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank suitably cut and scored to form thecarton disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is .an end elevational View of the carton disclosed herein shownwith the hooded top in the open position relative to the carton body.

In the drawin a carton it] is shown in which the im-- proved hood sidepanel construction is incorporated. The

I ji lin ll Patented Dec. 27, 1966 carton includes basically a traysection 12 and a hood section 14 hinged thereto and adapted to providefor opening and reclosing the carton. In the closed position of thecarton, the side Walls of the tray and hood sections telescope over oneanother.

A blank 16 suitably cut and scored for forming the carton disclosedherein is shown in plan view in FIG. 2. The blank includes successivemain panels 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 hingedly interconnected to one anotheralong parallel score lines 21, 23, 25 and 27. The panels are folded to atubular structure open at its ends with the panels 20 and 28 overlappingone another in face to face relation and being bonded together as at 3%The tubular structure has a closure panels for maintaining the mainpanels squared and further for closing the sides of the carton. Theclosure panels include full height inner side wall panels 44 hingedalong scores 45 to the side edges of bottom panel 26; outer side wallpanels 46 hinged along scores 47 to the side edges of top wall 22; andtuck in flaps 5t} and 52, hinged along scores 51 and 53 to the sideedges of the rear and front panels, respectively.

It is noted that the free or remote edge at the intermediate section ofeach outer side wall panel 46 is cut away or recessed as at 55 toprovide enlarged end sections 56 and 58 which extend from score 47approximately the full height of the carton. The carton is formedinitially to the tubular structure, as was previously described, andloaded with the product through the open end. Thereafter, the inner sidewall panels 44 are folded normal to the bottom wall to close the openends of the tubular section and the tuck in flaps 50 and 52 foldednormal to the respective rear and inner front wall against thepositioned under side wall panels 44. This folding of the panels 44 andflaps can be accomplished by plows or like devices (not shown) in thewell known manner, as the carton is conveyed in a direction indicated bythe arrow 60 generally parallel to score lines 45, 47, 51 and 53.

As the carton is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 60, aconventional inline gluer, represented in FIG. 1 by wheel 62 rotatableabout axis 64 is spaced from the hinged scores 47 so that it engagesonly the enlarged end sections 56 and 58 of the panel. In this manner,the gluer applies adhesive to the passing carton as continuous strips 66and 68 only on the end sections 56 and 58. These glue strips are thus onthe outer side Wall panels between the free edge 70 of the intermediaterecessed section 55 and the free edges 71 of the end sections. The outerside wall panel 46 is thereafter folded or plowed over to engage thetray side wall structure therebeneath.

Preferably, the end sections 56 and 58 of each outer side wall panel areproportioned relative to the tuck in flaps 5t) and 52 disposedtherebeneath to cover the flaps. Thus, by bonding each front end section58 to front tuck in flaps 52, a rigid hood is formed between the outerside wall panels 46, the tuck in flap 52, and the inner front wall panel20. The hood, once broken from the lower tray of the carton, can bepivoted as a unit about the rear edge of the top panel. Similarly, theenlarged rear end sections 56 can cover rear tuck in flaps 5t] and beadhesively bonded thereto, and further can extend past the flaps and bebonded to the portions of the inner side wall panels 44 exposedforwardly of the rear tuck in flaps. This secures the outer side wallpanel to the inner side wall panel for maintaining the carton closed.

Since the hood 14 in the carton disclosed hinges about the top wallhinge formed at the juncture 23 of rear wall 24 and the top wall, inorder to open the hood the hood side panels 46 must be separated fromthe tray side walls 44. To accommodate this, the hood side wall panels46 have provided therein a weakened section 73 extending a from the freeedge 70 of the intermediate recessed section 55 to the hinged score 23for the top wall panel and hood. The weakened line thus fails uponlifting the hood from the tray to permit the carton to be opened.

The subject carton can be opened by a readily separable connectionbetween the tray and hood in the form of a tear strip 82 defined bygenera-l parallel weakened cut lines 84 and 85 between glue panel 38 andreclosure panel 80. The glue panel 38 is adhesively bonded to the frontpanel and forms the only connection between the telescoping front panelsof the tray and hood. Thus, upon removing tear strip 82 from the carton,reclosure panel 80 is completely free from connection to the hood.

A locking tab 86 can be formed in the reclosure panel 80 for engagementwith the front hood panel. The tab 86 is formed in the panel 80 by anupwardly extending bell shaped cut 87 which tab is adapted to cooperatewith an upwardly shaped cut 89 formed in the hood front panel 20. Thelock can be engaged upon reclosing the carton by telescoping the hoodover the tray and by folding the reclosure panel forwardly until engagedwith the hood front wall, and thereafter fitting the locking tab 86through the receiving cut 89 in the hood front panel.

While various constructions shown in the subject carton, othermodifications can be made without departing from the inventive conceptdisclosed herein. For example, the ready separable means between thehood and tray can be formed on a wall other than the front wall of thetray, such as by providing a tear strip and glued flap connection on thehood top wall or tray bottom wall. In such a case, the front wall of thecarton still would comprise telescoping inner and outer panels formedfrom the tray and the hood. Also, by extending the rear tuck in flap 50forwardly of the carton and by shaping the rear end sections 56 tocomplement the tuck in flap for bonding the end section only to the tuckin flap, the entire hood could pivot about the hinged connection betweenthe rear wall and the bottom wall. Similarly, the top panel can haveprovided therein a score (not shown) extending between the scores 21 and23 to provide that only the forward portion of the top panel opens. Insuch a case, the rear end section can be extended forwardly to beyondthe top hinge, and weakened lines can be formed in the hood side panelsto extend from the free edge of the recess to the hood top hinge line.Accordingly, it is desired that invention be limited only by the scopeof the claims herein after following.

I claim:

1. A carton formed of foldable paperboard, comprismg:

(a) opposed top and bottom walls, and opposed pairs of side walls andfront and rear walls extended between and hingedly connected tocorresponding side, front and rear edges of the top and bottom walls;

(b) the side walls and the front wall including overlapping inner andouter panels hinged to the top and bottom walls;

(c) front and rear end flaps hinged to the front wall inner panel and tothe rear wall and extended between the side wall inner and outer panels;

(d) each of said side wall outer panels being hinged at its upper edgeto a related side edge of the top wall and extending therefrom towardthe bottom wall, and presenting remote end sections that overlap andcompletely cover the related end flap and presenting an intermediatesection having a lower free edge spaced above the lower free edges ofsaid end sections to provide a gap in the side wall outer panel betweenthe end flaps;

(e) said end sections having horizontal strips of adhesive applied tothe underside thereof, at locations vertically between the lower freeedges of the end and intermediate sections operable to secure said sidewall outer panel to the opposite end flaps and to the portion of theside wall inner panel exposed forwardly of the rear end flap fordefining a top hood and for maintaining the side wall outer panel downrelative to the side wall inner panel;

(f) readily separable means for maintaining the front wall inner andouter panels in overlapped relation;

(g) the side wall outer panel having a weakened section inclinedupwardly and rearwardly from the lower free edge of the intermediatesection at the rearward end thereof to a hinge line of the top wallextending parallel to the front and rear walls;

(h) the top wall and hood being operable thereby upon separation of thefront wall inner and outer panels and the breaking of the side wallouter panel weakened section to pivot about the top hinge line foropening and closing the carton.

2. A carton according to claim 1, wherein the top hinge line is at thejuncture of the rear wall and the top wall, and the rear end sectionextends forwardly of the rear wall to completely cover the rear end flapand further to cover a rearward portion of the side wall inner panelforwardly of the rear end flap.

3. A carton formed of foldable paperboard, comprismg:

(a) opposed top and bottom walls, and opposed pairs of side walls andfront and rear walls extended between and hingedly connected tocorresponding side, front and rear edges of the top and bottom walls;

(b) the side walls and the front wall including overlapping inner andouter panels hinged to the top and bottom walls;

(c) front end flaps hinged to the front wall inner panel and extendedbetween the side wall inner and outer panels;

(d) each of said side wall outer panels being hinged at its upper edgeto a related side edge of the top wall and extending therefrom towardthe bottom wall, and presenting enlarged front and rear end sections andan intermediate section having a lower free edge spaced above the lowerfree edges of said end sections to provide a gap in the side wall outerpanel between the end flaps, the front end section overlapping andcompletely covering the front end p;

(e) said end sections having horizontal strips of adhesive applied tothe underside thereof, at locations vertically between the lower freeedges of the end sections and said intermediate section operable tosecure the end sections to the front end flap and to the side wall innerpanel for defining a hood and for maintaining the side wall outer paneldown relative to the side wall inner panel;

(f) readily separable means for maintaining the front wall inner andouter panels in overlapped relation;

g) the side wall outer panel having a weakened section extending betweenthe lower free edge of the intermediate section and a hinge line of thetop wall extending parallel to the front and rear walls;

(h) the top wall and hood being operable upon separation of the frontwall inner and outer panels and breaking the weakened section to pivotabout the top hinge line for opening and closing the carton.

4. A carton formed of foldable paperboard, comprismg:

(a) opposed top and bottom, side, and front and rear walls hingedlyconnected together;

(b) the side walls including overlapping inner and outer panels hingedto the top and bottom walls;

(c)front end flaps hinged to the front wall and extended between theside wall inner and outer panels;

(d) each of said side wall outer panels being hinged at its upper edgeto a related side edge of the top wall and presenting enlarged endsections and an intermediate section having a lower free edge spacedabove the lower free edges of said end sections to provide a gap in theside wall outer panel, and the front end sections completely coveringthe front flaps;

(e) said end sections having adhesive applied to the underside thereof,between the lower free edges of the end and intermediate sectionsoperable to secure said side wall outer panel to the front end flap andto the side wall inner panel for defining a hood and for maintaining theside wall outer panel down relative to the side wall inner panel;

(f) the side wall outer panel having a weakened section extendingbetween the lower free edge of the intermediate section and a hinge lineof the top wall extending parallel to the front and rear walls;

(g) the hood being operable upon breaking the weakened section to pivotabout the top hinge line for opening and closing the carton.

5. A carton formed of foldable paperboard, compris- (a) opposed top andbottom walls, and opposed pairs of side walls and front and rear wallsextended between and hingedly connected to corresponding side, front andrear edges of the top and bottom walls;

(b) the side walls and the front wall including overlapping inner andouter panels hinged to the top and bottom walls;

(c) front and rear end flaps hinged to the front wall inner panel and tothe rear wall and extended between the side wall inner and outer panels;

((1) each of said side wall outer panels being hinged at its upper edgeto a related side edge of the top wall and presenting remote endsections that overlap and cover the related end flap and presenting anintermediate section having a lower free edge spaced above the lowerfree edges of said end sections to provide a gap in the side wall outerpanel between the end flaps;

(e) said end sections having horizontal strips of adhesive applied tothe underside thereof, at locations vertically between the lower freeedges of the end sections and said intermediate section operable tosecure said side wall outer panel to the opposite end flaps for defininga hood;

(f) readily separable means for maintaining the front wall inner andouter panels in overlapped relation to hold the hood closed relative tothe carton.

6. A carton formed of foldable paperboard, compris- (a) major top andbottom walls, and opposed pairs of side walls and front and rear wallsextended between and hingedly connected to corresponding side, front andrear edges of the top and bottom walls;

(b) the side walls and the front wall including overlapping inner andouter panels hinged to the major walls;

(0) each of said side wall outer panels extending from its hingedconnection to one major wall toward the other major wall, and presentingremote end sections and an intermediate section having a free edgespaced between the free edges of said end section to provide a free edgegap in the side wall outer panel;

(d) said end sections having strips of adhesive applied to the undersidethereof, at locations between the free edges of the end and intermediatesection operable to maintain the side wall outer panel down relative tothe side wall inner panel;

(e) readily separable means for maintaining the front wall inner andouter panels in overlapped relation; (f) said side wall outer panelhaving a weakened section extended thereacross from the free edge of theintermediate section operable to break upon opening the carton.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,923 9/1939Nemoede 229-51 X 1,895,070 1/1933 Czerweny 229-44 X 2,980,316 4/1961Buttery et al. 229-51 X 3,144,191 8/1964 Saidel 22951 X 3,146,936 9/1964Hodapp 22951 3,214,075 10/1965 Champlin et al. 22951 X GEORGE O.RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. A CARTON FORMED OF FOLDABLE PAPERBOARD, COMPRISING: (A) OPPOSED TOPAND BOTTOM WALLS, AND OPPOSED PAIRS OF SIDE WALLS AND FRONT AND REARWALLS EXTENDED BETWEEN AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO CORRESPONDING SIDE,FRONT AND REAR EDGES OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS; (B) THE SIDE WALLS ANDTHE FRONT WALL INCLUDING OVERLAPPING INNER AND OUTER PANELS HINGEDLY TOTHE TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS; (C) FRONT AND REAR END FLAPS HINGED TO THEFRONT WALL INNER PANEL AND TO THE REAR WALL AND EXTENDED BETWEEN THESIDE WALL INNER AND OUTER PANELS; (D) EACH OF SAID SIDE WALL OUTERPANELS BEING HINGED AT ITS UPPER EDGE TO A RELATED SIDE EDGE OF THE TOPWALL AND EXTENDING THEREFROM TOWARD THE BOTTOM WALL, AND PRESENTINGREMOTE END SECTIONS THAT OVERLAP AND COMPLETELY COVER THE RELATED ENDFLAP AND PRESENTING AN INTERMEDIATE SECTION HAVING A LOWER FREE EDGESPACED ABOVE THE LOWER FREE EDGES OF SAID END SECTIONS TO PROVIDE A GAPIN THE SIDE WALL OUTER PANEL BETWEEN THE END FLAPS; (E) SAID ENDSECTIONS HAVING HORIZONTAL STRIPS OF ADHESIVE APPLIED TO THE UNDERSIDETHEREOF, AT LOCATIONS VERTICALLY BETWEEN THE LOWER FREE EDGES OF THE ENDAND INTERMEDIATE SECTIONS OPERABLE TO SECURE SAID SIDE WALL OUTER PANELTO THE OPPOSITE END FLAPS AND TO THE PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL INNERPANEL EXPOSED FORWARDLY OF THE REAR END FLAP FOR DEFINING A TOP HOOD ANDFOR MAINTAINING THE SIDE WALL OUTER PANEL DOWN RELATIVE TO THE SIDE WALLINNER PANEL; (F) READILY SEPARABLE MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE FRONT WALLINNER AND OUTER PANELS IN OVERLAPED RELATION; (G) THE SIDE WALL OUTERPANEL HAVING A WEAKENED SECTION INCLINED UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROMTHE LOWER FREE EDGE OF THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION AT THE REARWARD ENDTHEREOF TO A HINGED LINE OF THE TOP WALL EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE FRONTAND REAR WALLS; (H) THE TOP WALL AND HOOD BEING OPERABLE THEREBY UPONSEPARATION OF THE FRONT WALL INNER AND OUTER PANELS AND THE BREAKING OFTHE SIDE OUTER PANEL WEAKENED SECTION TO PIVOT ABOUT THE TOP HINGE LINEFOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE CARTON.